Gas fueled candle



y 1961 J. A. GODDARD ET AL 7 2,984,093

GAS FUELED CANDLE Filed May 19, 1958 y. WWW m INVENTORS JOHN ANSELLGODDARD WILLIAM RETZLER BY i fn'omuzvs I May 1961 J. A. GODDARD ETAL2,984,093

GAS FUELED CANDLE Filed May 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHNANSELL GODDARD WILLIAM RETZLER ATTORNEYS.

GAS FUELED CANDLE John. AnsellGoddard, Cobham, and William Retzler,

Great Bookham, England, assignors, by mesne assign-,

ments, to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., a corporation of NewJersey Filed May 19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,157

' 4Claims. c1. 67- 87) The invention relates to a candle or likeimplement which is fueled by combustible gas of the butane type, i.e. bygases such as butane or propane which assume gaseous form when releasedunder usual atmospheric temperatures fand pressures, but which remainlargely in liquid form at such temperatures when held under sufficientpressures. In accordance with the invention an elongated barrel-likemember which serves as the main body member of a candle, torch, or'likeimplement, surrounds an ice Y which encloses a fuel chamber 2, whichlatter is constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure.

An appropriate fuel charging valve mechanism, the hous ing of which isdenoted at 3 in Fig. 2, may be understood as provided at the bottom endof the body member 1.

A'forrn of valve appropriate for fuel charging purposes will be laterdescribed in greater detail, it being understood for the present thatthe chamber 2 will normally carry fuel of the butane type partially inliquid form and partially in the form of gas at vapor pressure.

' At the upper end portion of the body member 1 a fuel outlet valvemechanism is provided, the housing of this internal fuel chamber intowhich fuel of the butane type may be charged and held under pressure. Afuel outlet valve mechanism is mounted in the top portion of the bodymember, and the upper portion of the candle-like structure isconstituted by a shell member which encloses the space above the outletvalve mechanism, this shell member being so coordinated with the outletvalve mechanism that angular movement of the shell member with respecttothe body member opens and closes the outlet valve mechanism. The rate offlow of gaseous fuel through the outlet mechanism also is preferablyregulatable by such angular movement of the shell member while the valvemechanism is open, to afford regulation of the height of the flame whichis produced when the gaseous fuel issuing from the structure, is ignitedin admixture with surrounding air. The implement also is preferablyprovided with appropriate bafie means as hereinafter described ingreater detail, for minimizing the passage of fuel in liquid form intothe outlet valve mechanism, under conditions where the flame height hasbeen appropriately adjusted for the flow of fuel in gaseous form intothe outletvalve mechanism. Further objects and advantages of theinvention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred toin the description hereinafter contained which taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of candle-likeimplement constructed to function in accordance with the invention; thedisclosure'however should be considered as merely illustrative of theinvention in its broader aspects. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side viewof a candle-like implement constructed to function in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.l, the intermediate portion of the structure being cut away and itsupper and lower parts being enlarged to show them more in detail;

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged central longitudinal section of afuel outlet valve mechanism appropriate for use in the structures ofFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a form of fuel chargingvalve mechanism appropriate for use in the structure shown in Figs. 1and 2;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view partly in section,

I be later described in more detail, but for the present itmay beunderstood that such mechanism includes a depressible valve stem 6 whichis exposed at the delivery side of the valve mechanism, and which closesthe valve mechanism when depressed, but opens the valve mechanism forthe upward flow of fuel therethrough from chamber 2, when downwardpressure upon the stem 6 is released. The fuel outlet valve mechanismmay be also understood as including an angularly movable member 7 (Figs.2, 3 5 and 6) which respectively increases and decreases the rate offlow of fuel through the outlet valve mechanism when turned in oppositedirections, with the valve stem 6 in open position. 7

A shell member 8 encloses the space above the fuel outlet valvemechanism, so as to provide a chamber 9 (Fig. 2) therein into andthrough which gaseous fuel flows when the valve stem 6 is in openposition. I'his shell member preferably constitutes in eifect an upwardtapering extention of the body member 1, but is mounted to aifordangular movement thereof with respect to the body member 1, about thelongitudinal center line of the structure as an axis. In the form shown,a cylindrical sleeve 10 is provided within the shell member 8, andacollar 11 is provided which overlaps the joint between the shell member8 and body member 1. The sleeve 10 position with respect to the bodymember 1, and when the shell is in operative position the user mayreadily twist it' angularly with respect to the body member 1. In theillustrated form of the invention a cam member 14 (Figs. 2; 5 and 6) isslidably mounted within the showing disassembled, certain of theoperating parts sleeve 10 to afford up and down movement of the cammember, but'the cam member is constrained to move angularly withsleeve'10 when the shell member 8 is twisted as above described. Asshown the sleeve 10 is provided with a tongue 15 struck'inwardlytherefrom (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) this tongue being received in. a groove 16(Fig. 5) in the annular wall of cam member 14. A spring 17 in the shellmember 8','urges the carn'member 14 downwardly toward a position inwhich'its central portion engages the stem 6 of the fuel outlet valvemech-' anism'to'hold the latter in closed position, but in most angularpositions of the shell member 8 and cam member 14,'a stop member'IS(Figs. 2, 5 and 6), whichis secured to and extends upwardly from thefitting 5; engages the bottom wall of cam member 14 .and holds the.latter in the elevated position shown in Fig. 12, under. whichconditions the cam member is free of stem-6' and the fuel outletvalvemechanism-'is'open. Howeverin' the angular position of shellmember 8,sleeve 10' and cam '14 whichis shown in Fig.6, the stop member 18,

Patented May 16, 1961 is received in a notch 19 (see Fig. 5) in thebottom wall of the cam member, thus permitting the cam member to movedownwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6, where the stem 6 isengaged and depressed by the cam member to hold the fuel outlet valvemechanism closed. By turning the shell member 8 in a counter-clockwisedirection as the parts appear in Fig. 6, the fuel outletvalve mechanismwill be opened.

The shell member 8 is shown as provided with a burner opening 20 at itstop, through which gaseous fuel passes from chamber 9, andthe fuelissuing from the burner opening 20 may be ignited by any appropriatemeans to burn in admixture with surrounding air and produce a flame, theheight of which will depend upon the rate of flow of gaseous fuelthrough the fuel outlet valve mechanism above described.

In order to regulate the flame height, the angularly movable flameheight adjusting member 7 above described may be provided with aperipheral lug 21 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which fits between the forked lowerend portions 22 of the tongue 15 previously described. When the shell 8is moved angularly in a counter-clockwise direction from the positionshown in Fig. 6, the fuel outlet valve mechanism will open, and theflame height regulating member 7 will then be set to produce a flame ofselected height, but as the angular movement of the shell member 8 iscontinued beyond the angular position which opens the fuel outlet valvemechanism, the flame height regulating member 7 will move throughsuccessive positions in which the flame height is progressivelyincreased or decreased as desired.

Fig. 3 shows more in detail a form of fuel outlet valve mechanismappropriate for fuel regulation in the above manner.

The valve housing 4 is shown as having openings 23 (Fig. 3) through thelower portion of its side wall, through which a strip 24 of porouscompressible material such as wicking, is exposed to gaseous fuel withinthe body member '1, to conduct the fuel into the valve mechanism. Thewicking 24 is shown as clamped between a metal ball 25 which rests inthe lower end portion of housing 4, and a barrel 26 which is slidablymounted within the housing 4, and provided with an elastic sealing ring27. When the valve is open, fuel flows through wicking 24 and thepassage 28 into the interior of barrel 26, and upwardly through thespace surrounding the valve stem 6, which latter when free of downwardpressure as previously referred to, is lifted by the gaseous pressure ofthe fuel, to open passage 28. When valve stem 6 is depressed aspreviously described, its lower end portion seals the passage 28 againstthe flow of fuel therethrough.

To regulate the flow of fuel through the valve mechanism when the latteris open, a threaded plug 29 is provided which engages against aresilient washer 30, and the latter is pressed downwardly by plug 29 tobear against a ball race constituted by the balls 31 and race members32, which in turn press downwardly against an annular flange 33 on thebarrel 26. A resilient washer 30a may also be provided underneath theflange 33, to assist in raising the barrel 26 when plug 29'is loosenedup to increase the rate of fuel flow. The threaded plug 29 presses thebarrel 26 downwardly to compress the wicking 24 between barrel 26 andthe ball 25, forming an annular zone of compression which surrounds themouth of passage 28. As the plug 29 is twisted to move downwardly andincrease the compression of wicking 24 and throttle the flow of fuelthrough the valve, the resilie'nt washers 30 and 3011 are furthercompressed, which provides a certain amount of lost motion between thedownward movement of the plug 29, and the resulting downward movement ofthe barrel 26. Thus a comparatively large angular movement of the plug29 produces a much smaller axial adjustment of the barrel 26, whichenables steadier and more delicate regulation of the flame height to beobtained. The angularly movable flame height adjusting member 7 ispreferably splined to the threaded plug 29, by the intereng'ag'ingg'eai' like tetlf will be put in place with its lug 21 in proper angularposition to be rotated by twisting the shell member 8.

as previously described, to adjust the flame to different heights. Inthe form shown, a snap ring 36 holds the member 7 detachably inposition. Gaseous fuel issuing from the outlet valve mechanism abovedescribed may pass through the openings surrounding the tongue 15 intothe annular space between the shell member 8 and sleeve 10, to fill thechamber 9 with gaseous fuel, from whence the fuel is emitted through theburner opening 20, to be burned in admixture with surrounding air.

Fig. 4 shows more in detail a form of fuel charging v'alve appropriatefor use in practising the invention. As there shown, a movable valvemember 37 is urged by a spring 38 into sealing engagement with aresilient seat 39 mounted in the valve housing 3. The movable valvemember 37 carries a hollow needle 40 which may pen'e-j trate into anappropriate container (not illustrated) of butane type fuel which willbe largely in liquid form. During charging the candle assembly will beheld in. inverted position, and the fuel supply container will bepressed downwardly against the movable valve member 37 to open thelatter and cause fuel, largely in liquid form, to be injected throughthe passage 41 into the fuel chamber 3. At the same time a vent passage42 through the valve member 47 will be opened to permit gas to escapefrom chamber 2 to the outer air during the fuel charging operation.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the outlet valvemechanism shown in Fig. 3 may be set to afford the desired range inflame height under conditions where' the wicking 24 receives fuel ingaseous form, in which eventif fuel in liquid form should reach the wick24, a flame of abnormally great height would result. The disclosedembodiment of the invention includes a baflle member 43 (Fig. 2) whichprotects the wicking against direct exposure to fuel in liquid form,while permitting fuel in gaseous form to reach the wicking. As shownthis bafile member is in the form of a cup fixed to extend downwardlyfrom the fitting 5 and having one or more openings 44 extending throughits side wall. Normally the chamber 2 will contain fuel partly in liquidform, and partly in the form of gas at its vapor pressure, and duringcharging or at other times the implement may be tilted or inverted insuch manner that unless prevented,- the wicking 24 will be wetted byliquid fuel. This may be undesirable if the delicate mechanism is set onthe operation with the wicking dry. The baffle member 43 will affordadequate capacity for storage of liquid fuel within chamber 2 whilepreventing the passage of liquid fuel into contact with wicking 24. Forpurposes of mounting the implement, a fitting 45 (Fig. 3) may beprovided which surrounds the charging valve and serves as a base.

While the invention has been disclosed as carried out by an implement ofthe above described specific form it should be understood that changesmay be made therein without departing from the invention in its broaderaspects within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the char acter described,including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed tohold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valvemechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell memberenclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burneropening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell memberto move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantiallyvertical axis, said valve mechanism including a depressible valve stem,and means for opening and closing said valve mechanism, including a cammember, means mounting said cam member to turn angularly with said shellmember and to slide longitudinally with respect to said shell member,means urging said cam member to move toward said valve stem, and a stopmember engaging said cam member in position to hold said cam member outof engagement with said valve stem in one angular position of said shellmember and afford depression of said valve stem by said cam member inanother angular position of said shell member.

2. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described,including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed tohold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valvemechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, said valvemechanism including a depressible valve stem which closes off the flowof fuel through said valve mechanism when depressed, a shell memberenclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burneropening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell memberto move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantiallyvertical axis, said outlet valve mechanism controlling communicationbetween said chamber and the space enclosed by said shell member, andmeans actuated by angular movement of said shell member with respect tosaid body member for opening and closing said outlet valve mechanism,said last mentioned means including a cam member mounted within saidshell member to move angularly therewith, and a spring urging said cammember into valve stem depressing position upon predetermined angularmovement of said shell member relative to said body member, said valvemechanism carrying an angularly movable fuel flow regulating memberwhich surrounds said valve stem, and means carried by said shell memberand interengaging with said fuel flow regulating member to increase anddecrease the rate of flow of fuel through said valve mechanism duringangular movements of said shell member relative to said body member.

3. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described,including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed tohold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valvemechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell memberenclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burneropening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell memberto move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantiallyvertical axis, said valve mechanism including a valve stem urged towardsopen position by the fuel under pressure in said chamber and beingdepressible to closed position to prevent the fiow of fuel from saidchamber, and means for actuating said valve stem including a cam member,means mounting said cam member for sliding axial movement relatively tosaid shell member and for angular movement with said shell member,spring means urging said cam member towards said valve stem to depressthe same, a stop member within said shell, said cam member having a camsurface engaging said stop member and cooperating therewith in oneangular position of said shell member to permit said cam member toengage and depress said valve stem to shut off the flow of fuel fromsaid chamber.

4. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described,including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed tohold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valvemechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell memberenclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burneropening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell memberto move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantiallyvertical axis, said valve mechanism including a valve stem urged towardsopen position by the fuel under pressure in said chamber and beingdepressible to closed position to prevent the flow of fuel from saidchamber, and means for actuating said valve stem including a cam member,means mounting said cam member for sliding axial movement relatively tosaid shell member and for angular movement with said shell member, afuel flow adjusting member adjusting the rate of fuel flow from saidchamber, means mounting said adjusting member for angular movement withsaid shell member to effect such adjustment, spring mean! urging saidcam member towards said valve stem to depress the same, a stop memberwithin said shell, said cam member having a cam surface engaging saidstop member and cooperating therewith in one angular position of saidshell member to permit said cam member to engage and depress said valvestem to shut ofi the flow of fuel from said chamber, a further camsurface on said cam member cooperating with said stop member to retainsaid cam member out of engagement with said valve stem in other angularpositions of said shell member while said adjusting member effects saidadjustment of the rate of fuel flow from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,618,953 Florman Nov. 25, 1952 2,749,733 Smith et al June 12, 19562,836,044 Zellweger May 27, 1958 2,895,318 Zellweger July 21, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS 325,936 Switzerland Ian. 15, 1958

